A WORLD GONE MAD
A Progressive Liberal News Podcast
Veteran Television, and Radio Broadcaster Jeff Alan Wolf offers his Observations on the issues (many issues) of the week with a fearless liberal bent. His solid delivery, and dry common sense approach sets him apart from other liberals that populate Talk and Commentary Podcasts”
Jeff Does NOT Pull Punches.
He does NOT Make comments that are “SAFE”.
He tells the Truth.
(He Tells It As He Sees It)
He Is Very OPINIONATED!
He says the things Out Loud YOU’RE
already thinking.
Jeff is Unfiltered, Unspun, A little Unhinged, but offers a lot of Common Sense.
This Podcast could make you MAD.
This Podcast could make you SMILE.
Regardless, it WILL make you THINK!
A WORLD GONE MAD
Supreme Court Gives Trump More Power: What You Need to Know
Democracy wobbles but doesn't fall. The Supreme Court just handed down a series of rulings that fundamentally reshape American civic life, creating what many are calling a "patchwork system" of justice across the country.
I outline concrete actions we can all take right now to protect our democracy. Now is NOT the time to stand in the shadows and cower. Now is the time to take action.
But there's hope amid the chaos. I share the inspiring story of a stunning upset victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary—proof that grassroots organizing can still disrupt entrenched power.
I also make a Major announcement about my podcast.
You can email me at:
AWorldGoneMadPodcast@gmail.com
AWorldGoneMadPodcast@gmail.com
This is a world gone mad. This is a world gone mad, mad, mad, mad, mad. It's another day in a world gone mad and I'm Jeff Allen Wolfe, back again to give my commentary on the news. So thank you for joining me. First off, at the end of this episode I'll be making an announcement about me and podcasting, but first let's talk about the madness. Last episode I told you about the Supreme Court's ruling on several major cases and the ramifications. This episode I'm going to talk about the remaining major cases and the rulings the court released Friday and what those rulings effect will have on us and our country. I'll give you my commentary after I tell you about all the cases.
Speaker 1:So, first off, trump versus CASA nationwide injunctions and birthright citizenship. The ruling was the court six to three barred federal district courts from issuing national injunctions, limiting them to only the parties before them. It did not rule on the legality of Trump's birthright citizenship policy, but reversed broader blocks on it. The impact for Trump it's a major procedural win, removes a key legal barrier that repeatedly stalled his agenda. Trump hailed it as a monumental victory, enabling immediate enforcement of his policies, like restricting birthright citizenship, except in districts with existing tailored orders. Now this fractured approach creates a patchwork. This is the impact for opponents Citizens' rights will depend on their judicial district. Immigrant advocacy groups warn it betrays our most fundamental promise and fear chaos, inconsistency and potential statelessness for children. The other case decided today was Mahmoud v Taylor opting out from LGBTQ plus storybooks. The ruling in a 6-3 vote, the court granted parents the right to opt their children out out of the LGBTQ plus inclusive storybook lessons in public schools, citing the free exercise clause. The impact for Trump this aligns with his cultural agenda empowering parents with religious objections, boistering his parental rights messaging and likely appealing to his base. Now the impact for the opponents Critics argue it opens the door for censorship in education, potentially marginalizing LGBTQ plus themes and eroding inclusive schooling. It signals a shift toward religious exemptions in curricular policy.
Speaker 1:Another case Free Speech Coalition v Paxton age verification for porn sites. The ruling the court upheld Texas' age verification law 6-3, finding that requiring websites to verify users are over 18 only, incidentally, burdens adult free speech rights. The impact for Trump another win that reflects the conservative bent of the court and dovetails with his law and order narrative. He applauded as a great ruling benefiting parents. The impact for the opponents free speech advocates warn it undermines online privacy, could chill adult access to constitutionally protected content. There are concerns. It sets a precedent for further internet regulation and the Kennedy versus Braidwood Management Task Force appointments was ruled upon the ruling from the court squaring the appointments clause. The court unanimously ruled that members of the US Preventative Service Task Force are validly appointed as inferior officers.
Speaker 1:Now the impact for Trump it stabilizes a pillar of the Affordable Care Act implementation, a measure Trump's administration previously defended but which had been legally challenged. This steadies his health policy legacy. Now impact for opponents preserves critical preventive health care mandates, including cancer screenings and contraception, ensuring continued protection from millions. It staves off disruptions in public health coverage. And FCC v Consumers Research. Universal Service Fund the ruling the court upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, maintaining that Congress adequately directed the FCC's role. Impact for Trump allows continuation of subsidized telecom services for schools, libraries and rural areas, an infrastructure initiative that his administration supports. Impact for opponents great news for educators and low-income communities dependent on these subsidies. If struck down, the digital divide gaps could have widened dramatically.
Speaker 1:So what is the bottom line for America today and a world gone mad every single day? These rulings collectively reshaped civic and cultural terrain For Trump, all these rulings is a strategic triumph. His agenda sees fewer national legal roadblocks, gains on parental rights, protections for broadband programs he champions For his opponents. Each case reflects erosion in universal protections, heightened educational censorship and stronger government powers with uneven impact across states, setting the stage for a vastly unequal legal and social fabric across America. Today's Supreme Court rulings weren't just legal footnotes. They were body blows to the very concept of equal justice. They were body blows to the very concept of equal justice and, make no mistake, they are victories for Donald Trump. His agenda no-transcript. Let's be clear this is no longer about policy disagreements. This is structural. The court just limited the power of lower federal judges to stop Trump-style executive orders in their tracks.
Speaker 1:That means if Trump or someone like him gets back in the White House, policies could go into effect immediately. Him gets back in the White House, policies could go into effect immediately, even if they're unconstitutional, unless you live in the right district and can't afford to sue. That's not democracy. That's authoritarianism wearing a judicial robe. So where does that leave us? It leaves Democrats and pro-democracy Americans with a fire alarm blaring. We can't wait for 2026 or 2028.
Speaker 1:We have to organize now, at the state level, at the ballot box, in the courts and in the streets if necessary. We need to elect not just presidents and senators, but secretaries of state, attorneys general and governors who will fight back. We need to pressure the Senate to expand the courts, pass judicial ethics rules and take a serious look at Supreme Court reform. And we need to talk loudly, clearly, daily, because silence is complicity. And these rulings are a warning, not a final chapter. What we do now matters more than ever. Our democracy didn't fall today, but it wobbled and it's up to us to steady it together. The wounds to our democracy are a lot and all over our country. All of us need to be engaged in triage damage control Act where we can, where we need the most help immediately. Let me offer you some concrete actions to protect our democracy and, yes, some of them you've heard and some of them you know, but they need to be repeated again for those of you that are not listening.
Speaker 1:First register and then double check your voter registration. Make sure you're on the rolls and confirm your polling place or mail-in ballot status. Next, you need to vote in every single election, not just presidential years, but municipal, state, judicial retention, school board elections. Your voice matters down ballot. Mobilize your network text call carpool house party. Help five friends commit to vote. Then five more Accountability drives turnout.
Speaker 1:Support pro-democracy candidates and measures. Donate to phone bank for or volunteer with organizations and campaigns that back fair maps, voting rights and court reform. Pressure your state legislature. Demand fair map, redistricting automatic voter registration, independent election oversight and non-partisan judicial selection. Call your US senators and representatives weekly. Tell them to expand the Supreme Court, pass federal voting rights protections like the Freedom to Vote Act and strengthen judicial ethics rules. Show up where it counts. Attend school board, city council and state house hearings. Make your voice heard on curriculum policy and election administration and judge confirmations and election administration and judge confirmations. Expose and oppose ultra-partisan judges. Track local and state judicial elections. Support ethics reforms. Back retention votes for judges who refuse to weaponize the bench. Stay informed. Inform others, share trusted news analysis, debunk misinformation real time. Keep this conversation going on social media, community forums and at your dinner table. And, yes, please share this, my podcast, a World Gone Mad, with everyone you know. Keep up the pressure every day.
Speaker 1:Democracy isn't a one and done. It's a muscle. Practice it, protect it. Refuse to let go until our courts, our elections and our rights are finally back in balance. Repeat these steps with your neighbors, your family, your co-workers, your family, your co-workers, because the fight for our republic is one, in the streets, the booths and the ballot boxes. One vote, one voice at a time.
Speaker 1:If you'd like to share your opinion or add more to this list that I gave you anything I may have missed so I can share with others on the next episode, then email me A World Gone Mad podcast at gmailcom or leave your voice opinion on my voicemail box 833-399-9653. Silence is not acceptable. Passive resistance does not work. Standing in the shadows and doing nothing is harmful to yourself and the rest of us. Please interact and engage. Okay, let me switch gears and instead of my uplifting, inspiring story that I normally share with you at the end of each episode, here's something I do want to share with you Uplifting, inspiring, but a little different look at it, and this relates to our democracy in our country, something that gives us a glimmer of hope for a possible change in a new direction. Some of you may have already known this, most may not. So here we go A new progressive beacon Zoran Mamdani's upset win in New York City.
Speaker 1:Now Zoran Mamdani. For those of you that don't know is a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and member of the New York State Assembly. He pulled off a stunning upset this week by defeating political heavyweight Andrew Cuomo, who was trying to make a comeback in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, once seen as a long shot. In trailing by 25 points in the polls, mamdani surged ahead through genuine grassroots energy, rejecting the idea that Democrats need to move to the center to win. This wasn't just an electoral surprise. It was a movement. Over 1,500 young organizers from New York City's Democratic Socialists, working Families Party and student group TRIEJ, organized in more than 20 languages, energized diverse neighborhoods, especially those feeling overlooked, by focusing on affordability, green energy and public education. Despite facing $25 million in opposition spending and Islamophobic attacks, mamdani remained undaunted. His campaign stayed disciplined and dignified, standing firm under pressure and rallying support through inclusive moral clarity.
Speaker 1:This election signals something enormous a rejection of passive establishment politics. Nearly 62% of Democrats now say they want new leadership and this win offers a clear path, powered by authentic representation and relentless organizing. Even if New York isn't your district, the message is universal Ordinary people can disrupt entrenched power with a clear agenda and the work to back it up. It's a proof of concept Focused ideas plus grassroots discipline equals real change. This one is proof that democracy still works if we show up, organize, speak out and not just hope. Real change isn't handed down by judges or experts. It's built by people who refuse to wait.
Speaker 1:My last comment I would like to make before I close this episode. I wrote several hundred of you in an instant message today, this episode. I wrote several hundred of you in an instant message today, a personal message, and I want to thank those of you that responded who said I should still continue to send you notifications and links to my podcast episodes. Thank you, your support is appreciated. I'm pleased to report that only a handful of you that I wrote to said stop, don't bother sending your notifications and links anymore. It's not bad a handful. We're in this together, everyone, and I'm trying to do my part to inform you what's happening several times a week and giving my honest commentary, with no BS and no bullshit, no spin, no made-up fake news, as Donald wants to call it. All right.
Speaker 1:I promised a major announcement about me and podcasting at the end of this episode and here it is. There will be a new podcast coming your way from me that I've just started to work on this past week. It will have absolutely nothing to do with politics Guaranteed Completely opposite from this podcast and I'm estimating hopefully in the fall, sometime, when I will release the new podcast. And the only other thing I will tease you, the Wolfpack listeners, with, is the name of the new podcast, my new podcast. It's going to be called the Getaway Place. The Getaway Place will be your weekly escape from the noise, rush and repetition of daily life. Take a journey with your mind and indulge your senses. I promise mystery, interesting stories and something that lets you get outside of your body and your soul and explore with me some unusual things that I think you will find interesting.
Speaker 1:I hope you'll enjoy this new episode, or rather podcast. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back Monday with another episode of A World Gone Mad. I'm Jeff Fallon Wolfe. I always ask to hear from you and hopefully I will have a great weekend and, as always, stay hopeful. There is chaos in the world, can't you see? And, as always, stay hopeful. This is a world gone mad.
